How to Get from Seoul to Regional Cities — Gyeongju, Jeonju, Gangneung, Yeosu, Andong: KTX vs. Express Bus Comparison

When traveling from Seoul to regional cities, the first mistake most people make isn't about the destination—it's about the departure station. Trains to Gyeongju and Busan leave from Seoul Station, trains to Jeonju and Yeosu depart from Yongsan Station, and trains to Andong leave from Cheongnyangni Station. These three stations are 15-30 minutes apart by subway, so if you memorize only "Seoul Station," you might arrive just as your train to Jeonju pulls away from Yongsan.

Here are the numbers: Seoul Station → Gangneung takes 1 hour 54 minutes and costs 27,600 KRW; Yongsan → Jeonju takes as little as 1 hour 31 minutes and costs 34,400 KRW; Seoul → Gyeongju takes approximately 2 hours 2 minutes and costs 49,300 KRW; Yongsan → Yeosu Expo takes approximately 2 hours 40 minutes and costs 47,200 KRW; Cheongnyangni → Andong takes about 2 hours and costs 25,100 KRW (all economy class one-way, based on the December 30, 2025 timetable).

Express buses generally take 1-2 hours longer but cost about half as much. However, this formula flips for one city: Gyeongju's KTX station is far from downtown, requiring an additional 20-40 minutes by bus or 15,000 KRW by taxi after arriving. Meanwhile, Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal is within walking distance of Daereungwon and Hwangridan-gil.

Additionally, starting with trains operating from September 1, 2026, KORAIL and SR will merge. The name will be unified as 'KTX,' and there's a condition to reduce KTX fares by an average of 10% to the existing SRT level over the next three years (Fair Trade Commission final approval of corporate merger on August 2, 2026). The actual reduction amount and timing will be confirmed by KORAIL announcements. The fares below are based on August 2026, before the reduction.

1. Three Different Departure Stations — Seoul, Yongsan, Cheongnyangni

Korea's high-speed rail lines have different Seoul-area terminals depending on the route. This is the biggest source of confusion for international travelers.

Jeolla Line trains (to Jeonju and Yeosu) depart primarily from Yongsan Station, with only a few services starting from Seoul Station. The confirmed train numbers are: southbound 503, 507, 515, 517 and northbound 502, 504, 514, 516, 520. If your train number doesn't match these, you need to go to Yongsan, not Seoul Station.

Gangneung Line trains depart from both Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station. Departing from Cheongnyangni is 28 minutes faster and 1,600 KRW cheaper (1 hour 26 minutes, 26,000 KRW vs. 1 hour 54 minutes, 27,600 KRW). If your accommodation is in Dongdaemun, Seongbuk, or Gangbuk areas, Cheongnyangni is more convenient.

2. Quick Comparison of Fares and Times for 5 Cities

Let's start with KTX. All fares are economy class, one-way.

For comparison, Seoul → Busan KTX on the same Gyeongbu High-Speed Line takes 2 hours 17 minutes at the fastest and costs 59,800 KRW economy class. Gyeongju is about 15 minutes closer than Busan and roughly 10,000 KRW cheaper.

Now for express buses. Note that Seoul departure terminals are split between two locations:

The Gangneung route discontinued standard class service on September 1, 2025, so deluxe at 24,600 KRW is now the cheapest option. Standard class fares for Gangneung that you might find online are no longer accurate.

Although both use Banpo subway station, Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Central City are separate buildings. If you're waiting in the Seoul Express Bus Terminal lobby with a ticket to Jeonju or Yeosu, you'll miss your bus. If the terminal layout confuses you, check the Intercity Bus Terminal Guide as well.

3. Gyeongju — The Only City Where the "Slower" Option Wins

Gyeongju is the most important case study in this article. It's the one route where KTX loses in total door-to-door travel time despite being faster station-to-station.

Gyeongju KTX Station is located in Hwacheon-ri, Geoncheon-eup, outside the city center. It's far from downtown tourist sites like Daereungwon and Hwangridan-gil, requiring one more leg of travel after arrival:

• City buses to downtown take about 20-40 minutes (varies widely by route and time of day).
• Taxis have Gyeongju's unique 55% compound surcharge. If you travel beyond 5km from Gyeongju Arts Center (measured by radius), the surcharge applies after the base distance (2km) even within the same district. Gyeongju Station in Geoncheon-eup falls into this zone.
• Actual fares average around 15,000 KRW to Hwangridan-gil/Intercity Bus Terminal and mid-to-late 20,000s KRW to Bomun Tourist Complex, according to media reports.

By contrast, Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal is at 2 Taejong-ro 685beon-gil (Noseo-dong), within walking distance of Daereungwon and Hwangridan-gil. Your itinerary can start the moment you step off the bus.

Here's the math: KTX takes 2 hours 2 minutes at 49,300 KRW, but add 20-40 minutes and 15,000 KRW for taxi to downtown. Express bus takes 3 hours 30 minutes at 33,600 KRW (deluxe) and drops you right in the city center. Door-to-door, the time gap shrinks to around 1 hour (approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes depending on connections).

Don't Miss Gyeongju Station Shuttle Buses 710 & 711

Gyeongju launched new station shuttle buses starting February 27, 2023. The key improvement is that combining these routes cuts the headway from 1 hour 30 minutes to about 30 minutes (though individual routes run less frequently):

• Route 710: Gyeongju Station ↔ Bomun Tourist Complex, 07:25-22:20, 14 trips/day
• Route 711: Gyeongju Station ↔ Tongildaejeon ↔ Bulguksa Temple, 07:07-21:22, 10 trips/day
• Route 700: Gyeongju Station ↔ Bulguksa Temple, takes about 50-57 minutes

The Name "Singyeongju Station" No Longer Exists

Many foreign-language blogs and map apps still show "Singyeongju" (新慶州), but this is no longer the official name.

When the old Gyeongju Station closed on December 28, 2021, due to the Jungang Line/Donghae Nambu Line realignment, it created grounds to drop the "Sin (新/New)" prefix. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Station Naming Committee approved the change in January 2023, and by December 28, 2023, all signage, booking systems, and announcements had been updated. The name you need to search for in booking systems is simply Gyeongju Station.

4. Jeonju — KTX Advantage is Clearest Here

Jeonju is where choosing KTX is most straightforward among the five cities. From Yongsan, the fastest trains take 1 hour 31 minutes, with typical times of 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 55 minutes. Express buses take about 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes—nearly an hour longer.

Service is frequent: about 26 KTX trains per day, with the first train at 06:25 and last at 23:11, making day trips feasible. Fares from Yongsan are 34,400 KRW economy, 48,200 KRW first class. Seoul Station departures add 200 KRW for the extended distance (34,600 KRW economy).

If you choose the express bus, it's about the fare: 12,000 KRW standard class is one-third the KTX price. Plus, Seoul → Jeonju runs 89 times daily with 10-20 minute intervals, so you can practically show up and catch a bus without reservations.

Jeonju Station is about 5km from Hanok Village, not walkable. City buses take about 25 minutes; routes include 112, 119, 101, 508, 536, 542, 545, 546, 79, and 999. Get off at Jeondong Cathedral (Hanok Village) stop.

5. Gangneung — KTX Wins, But Summer Tickets Sell Out

Gangneung is the opposite: KTX dominates. It takes 1 hour 54 minutes from Seoul Station or 1 hour 26 minutes from Cheongnyangni, while express buses take 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours. Even the fare difference is small: KTX 27,600 KRW vs. express bus deluxe 24,600 KRW—only a 3,000 KRW difference.

Gangneung Station is in Gyo-dong, offering the best accessibility among all five cities:

• A 10-minute walk gets you to the old downtown of Okcheon-dong/Jungang-dong and Gangneung Jungang Market.
• Gyeongpo Beach is about 30 minutes away on routes 202 or 202-1.
• Anmok Beach (Coffee Street) is accessible via routes 302-1, 314, 225, 212, or 212-1.

The problem is summer. According to KORAIL's 2026 summer holiday special transportation results (July 25-August 10, 17 days), rail passengers totaled 7.3 million, averaging 430,000 per day, up 4.6% from 6.98 million the previous year. KTX alone averaged 280,000 passengers daily, up 7.8% year-over-year, with a peak of 500,000 on August 1.

By route, Gangneung Line saw a 13.7% surge over normal levels, ranking first in growth rate, followed by Jeolla and Gyeongbu lines. The saying "Gangneung really sells out in summer" is confirmed by the numbers.

Express buses offer an alternative. Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Gangneung service began extended service to Gyeongpo Beach on May 3, 2024, and increased to 5 trips daily starting August 1, 2026 (600 KRW surcharge for the extension). If you have a lot of luggage and your hotel is near Gyeongpo, this service might be more convenient.

6. Yeosu — 3-Hour KTX vs. 4h 20min Bus

Yeosu is the farthest from Seoul. Yongsan → Yeosu Expo KTX takes 2 hours 40 minutes at the fastest, averaging about 2 hours 55 minutes, with the longest trip at 3 hours 8 minutes. Economy class is 47,200 KRW, first class 66,100 KRW.

The many stops account for the time: Haengsin-Seoul-Yongsan-Gwangmyeong-Cheonan Asan-Osong-Gongju-Seo-Daejeon-Gyeryong-Nonsan-Iksan-Jeonju-Namwon-Gokseong-Gurye-gu-Suncheon-Yeocheon-Yeosu Expo. It's the same line that passes through Jeonju to reach Yeosu, so no transfers are needed.

Service runs about 21-22 times daily, with first departure from Yeosu at 05:05 and last at 21:54. Plan at least one overnight stay when traveling between Seoul and Yeosu.

Express buses depart from Central City, taking about 4 hours 20 minutes (346.8km). Compared to KTX's average time (about 2 hours 55 minutes), buses take about 1 hour 25 minutes longer but cost roughly 12,600 KRW less (deluxe basis). Note there are different frequencies: Seoul → Yeosu runs 16 times daily, while Yeosu → Seoul runs 12 times, so check return schedules first.

From Yeosu Expo Station to Odongdo Island is about 2.5km, 5-7 minutes by taxi. City buses include routes 2, 6, 7, 109, and 111, though routes 109 and 111 only serve Expo Station during certain hours after the March 2022 route revision (tentative—verify with Yeosu transportation information).

7. Andong — KTX-Eum and the 'Converted Intercity' Bus Trap

Andong trains depart from Cheongnyangni Station using KTX-Eum. Economy class costs 25,100 KRW for about 2 hours to 2 hours 3 minutes—the cheapest fare among all five cities.

KTX-Eum uses different seat class names. What a regular KTX calls 'first class' is called 'Deluxe Class' here, and it costs 30,100 KRW. Don't waste time hunting for "first class" in the booking system.

Jungang Line has detailed segment pricing that benefits intermediate cities: Yangpyeong 8,400 KRW, Wonju 10,100 KRW, Jecheon 15,400 KRW, Yeongju 21,800 KRW, Andong 25,100 KRW, and the full Cheongnyangni~Bujeon route 49,800 KRW.

December 30, 2025 Revision Significantly Increased Service

KORAIL's service adjustment announced December 15, 2025 represents a major improvement for Jungang Line and Donghae Line passengers:

• Cheongnyangni~Bujeon service expanded from 6 trips daily (3 each way) to 16 trips weekdays (8 each way) and 18 trips weekends (9 each way).
• Of these, 8 trips extend through to Seoul Station.
• Signal system upgrades on the Andong~Yeongcheon section reduced Cheongnyangni~Bujeon fastest time to 3 hours 38 minutes.
• New stops added — Shinhaeundae 8 trips, Buk-Ulsan 4 trips, Centum 2 trips, Gijang 2 trips, Namchang 2 trips.
• First-ever Donghae Line Gangneung~Bujeon KTX-Eum service launched, 6 trips daily (3 each way), 3 hours 54 minutes—1 hour 10 minutes shorter than previous transfer routes.
• Seoul~Andong added 2 trips daily (1 each way).

In terms of station stops, you can now travel from Cheongnyangni to Shinhaeundae, Centum, and Gijang without transfers. However, not all trains stop at these stations—only the frequencies listed above—so always check the timetable.

Andong Station Relocated in 2020

Andong Station moved from Unheung-dong to 648 Songhyeon-dong on December 17, 2020—the first relocation in 90 years. The new station is right next to Andong Bus Terminal, making train-bus connections easy. It is, however, a ride away from the old downtown around the traditional market and Wolyeonggyo Bridge, so you'll need to hop on a city bus.

Main tourist routes from Andong City Tourism Portal. City bus fare is 1,500 KRW with free transfers within 1 hour after tapping out:

• Hahoe Village: Express 2, Route 210
• Dosan Seowon: Express 3 (first bus 06:10)
• Bongjeongsa Temple: Express 2, Route 310 (first bus 07:20)
• Andong Dam: Route 112 (first bus 07:30)

You Can't Judge 'Express' vs. 'Intercity' by Terminal Name Alone

Andong buses present the second major trap in this article. The Seoul Express Bus Terminal ↔ Andong route is a 'converted intercity' route that switched from express bus to intercity bus license on August 1, 2013. The license is intercity, but you board at the express bus terminal.

Even more confusing is booking: this route has used the KOBUS (express bus unified reservation) system since July 24, 2017. So it's classified as "15 express buses daily" in express bus operations. Fares are standard 19,000 KRW, deluxe 24,400 KRW, premium 33,500 KRW.

8. Holiday Booking — 2026 Chuseok Won't Have Ticket Windows Open During Advance Sales

KORAIL announced the 2026 Chuseok ticket booking schedule on August 14, 2026. For international travelers, the sales method matters more than the fare:

• Pre-booking for mobility-challenged passengers: September 3-4, 09:00-15:00
  • Sept 3: Gyeongbu, Gyeongjeon, Donghae, Jungbunaeryuk, Gyeongbuk, Daegu, Chungbuk, suburban lines
  • Sept 4: Honam, Jeolla, Jungang, Gangneung, Janghang, Yeongdong, Taebaek, Seohae, Gyeongchun, Mokpo-Boseong lines
• General booking: September 7-11, 07:00-13:00
  • Sept 7: Regular trains
  • Sept 8-10: KTX by line
  • Sept 11: Gyeongbu Line KTX
• Payment deadline: Starting September 12 at midnight, 15 days for general bookings, 18 days for pre-bookings

Here are the two most important points: First, ticket windows will NOT operate during the booking period (Sept 3-11) and sales will be online-only through the 'KORAIL+' app and website. Remaining seats become available at ticket counters and vending machines after 3 PM on September 11. Second, if you were an SR-only member, you need to convert to unified membership in advance.

In other words, if you can't access the app or website when bookings open, good seats will be nearly gone. Complete app registration and payment setup before booking day. The holiday booking process is detailed further in the Chuseok/Seollal Train Booking Guide.

Express buses work differently: Special holiday period seats typically open all at once in special advance sales 3-4 weeks before the holiday (2025 Chuseok opened at 10 AM on September 3). Announcements vary each year, so check kobus.co.kr notices.

During normal periods, there's more flexibility. As mentioned earlier, tickets go on sale 1 month before the travel date, so tickets for October 5 become available on September 5.

9. When You're Blocked at Payment After Choosing Your Ticket

Even after selecting your route, one final obstacle remains: without a Korean phone number or domestic bank account, many travelers get stuck at the last step of booking. Here's how it breaks down by channel:

LACHA is a foreigner-friendly transportation and payment super app you can use immediately without identity verification. Book both KTX and express buses in one app, then seamlessly continue with taxi calls and transit cards using the same wallet after arrival. It supports international e-wallets like Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Apple Pay, plus foreign cards including VISA, Mastercard, JCB, and UnionPay, making it easier to complete payment without a Korean bank account or domestic card. Note that LACHA supports express buses only, not intercity buses. For ambiguous "converted intercity" routes like Andong, search Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Andong directly in the app to confirm availability. If foreign cards keep getting declined, also check KTX Foreign Card Booking Solutions and Express Bus English Booking Guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can I take KTX from Seoul Station to Jeonju or Yeosu? A. In principle, they depart from Yongsan Station. Jeolla Line has only a few trains originating from Seoul Station; confirmed numbers are southbound 503, 507, 515, 517 and northbound 502, 504, 514, 516, 520. When booking, always verify whether your departure is Yongsan or Seoul. The two stations are several subway stops apart.

Q2. For Gyeongju, which is better—KTX or express bus? A. Decide based on your accommodation location. Gyeongju KTX Station is in Geoncheon-eup, requiring an additional 20-40 minutes by bus or about 15,000 KRW by taxi to reach downtown (mid-to-upper 20,000s KRW to the Bomun area). If staying near Hwangridan-gil or Daereungwon, the express bus terminal is within walking distance and more convenient. If staying in Bomun Tourist Complex, Route 710 shuttle makes KTX viable.

Q3. Why doesn't 'Singyeongju Station' appear in searches? A. Because that name was discontinued on December 28, 2023. When the old Gyeongju Station closed, they dropped the "Sin (新)" prefix and changed the official name to Gyeongju Station, completing updates to booking systems and signage. Search for Gyeongju Station (Gyeongju) when booking.

Q4. How do I buy 2026 Chuseok train tickets? A. General booking is September 7-11, 07:00-13:00: Sept 7 for regular trains → Sept 8-10 for KTX by line → Sept 11 for Gyeongbu Line KTX. Ticket windows will NOT operate during the booking period; sales are online-only through KORAIL+ app and website (remaining seats sold at windows after 3 PM Sept 11). Former SR-only members should convert to unified membership in advance.

Q5. How much will fares drop with the September 1 KTX-SRT merger? A. The Fair Trade Commission approval condition requires reducing KTX fares by an average of 10% to existing SRT levels over the next three years. Capacity will increase by at least 15,000 seats weekdays and 17,000 weekends, with frequency increasing by 23 trains weekdays and 25-26 weekends. Check KORAIL announcements for actual route-specific amounts. However, whether the reduction applies to KTX-Eum (Gangneung Line, Jungang Line) has not been confirmed in official documentation yet (tentative—official verification needed).